Feeder for fish cutting machines



March 23, 1954 o. J. HABER FEEDER FOR FISH CUTTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 25, 1952 INVENTOR. R, DEOEASED OSCAR J. HABE BY OLGA M.H

ABER, EXECUTRIX March 23, 1954 J HABER 2,672647 FEEDER F'OR FISH CUTTING MACHINES Filed April 25 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIEIIE 2 INVENTOR.

OSCAR J. HABER, DECEASED BY OLGA M. HABER,EXECUTRIX A rroxaw: Y5

March 23, 1954 o. J. HABER 2672647 FEEDER FOR FISH CUTTING MACHINES Filed April 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIEE lEQ INVENTOR. OSCAR J. HABER, DECEASED BY OLGA M.HABER EXECUTRIX March 23, 1954 o. J. HABER FEEDER FOR FISH CUTTING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 25, 1952 IN VEN TOR.

R- 5 DT U um N AE W EX /r C 7 F. DR .W R m kA G M1. CO S 0m March 23, 1954 o. J. HABER 2672647 FEEDER FOR FISH CUTTING MACHINES Filed April 25. 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 noxtian.oi th ieexiiag mach... iam 1s11own 1.11Ei8= Patented Mar. 23, 1954 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE FEEDER FR FISH CUTIING MACI-IINES Oscar]. Haben deceased, latg cf San Francisqo,

Calilf., b y Olga M. Haber, executrix. San Fran- Application Aprfi125, 1952, Seriell N0. 284,371

' The presentinvention relates to improvements in flsh cutting andevisceratingmachinery, and more particularlyto feedingmechanism for such machines and is a centinuation-in-part of Haber application Serial N0. 729,337, filed Feb rua.ry 18, 1947, now abancloned.

Fish cutting and eviscerating machines in which a conveyor comprising series of pockets formed between cutting blocks oarry 'fish 120 various types of cutting and eviscerating devicesa-re weil known. The automatization of the fumtien of supplyingfish to the pockets of the nonveyors -of such machines has, however, presented a, serious problem because of the necessity for orienting the 'flsh in such pockets with their heads disposed in the same direction and in a belly down position.

The Ieeding mecha-nlsm of the present invention accomplishes this orientation automatica'lly. It'=isadapted furthermore, to be synchronized with the conveyor of any cf a, numberof standard type of cutting and eviscerating maehines so as'to 'eifect autom'atic feeding thereof.

The machine @f the present invention=employs a =knowri type of shaker table for orienting the 1- fishWi-th their heads disposed in the same direction. Combined therewith is a novel orienting deviee whiqh receives fish from the shaker table and-orients them '-in= abelly down position. From thi orienting device the fish are transferred to the conventi0nal.poekets of a cutting n1ae hine conveyor bya novel mechanism Whlch issynchronized with said .conveyor, and which by groupin the fish Tor transfe'r 120 the conveyor of' lih8" cutting maehine makes lt possible for th e latter to run continuously and at a considerably grgater speed than does the' feeder.

- The nove'el fea-tures cf the invent=ion are defined with p a-tt-icularity in the appendedblaims. The i-nvention itself will be best understood, however, from the following description of a pr'eferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accempanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 and 1a are twn parts, on different scales, of a plan view of a feeding mechanism er'nbodying the present invention, connectlad in synchronized relationship wit-h a, conventional type of cutting machine;

F1PJLII82 is a view in side elevation of the fisn orienting system of the feeding mechanism shown in Figure 1a;

Figure 3 is a detail view in section of the forward. end of the orienting system of Figure 2;

Eisure 4= 1 a view in Iront elevation of that 17 Claims. (GI. 17--2) Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal medial section of the fish aligning and conveying System of .the feeding mechanism of Figure 1, showingthe: relative positiofls .of the checker and ejector means in one phase 0f operation;

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5., but showing the relative positions of the checker and ejector means in another phase of operation;

Figure 7 .is. a detail view in section taken along lines 'l-'I of Figure 1 and showing the fish guide and conveying means of themechanism;

Figure 8 is a detailview in section taken along lines 8-8 oi Figure 1 and 'showing the fish stop meang and the discharge end of thefishguide means of the invention;

Figure 9 is a view in section taken alung lines 99 of Figure 1; anal Figure 10 is a detail view taken along lines liJ-Ili of Figure 1..

In the preferr.ed embodiment, the feeding mechanism utilizes a conventional shaker structure of the Rind. disclosed in the patent to-Mullins, 1893903 dated January 10 1933, for orienting fish so that their heads are disposed in Ehe same directlon. As illustrated, this shaker structure. comprises an inclined table l having a wire .me.sh screen surface .3. Fish are loaded on the table by any desired means, such a a ahnte leacling from a storage tank, whereby the amount of fish discharged onto the table may be controlled. The table l, which is inelined a1; an angle cf approximately 1 5 degrees from the horizpntal,=is supportecl a1: one end by a plurality of fixad. suppmrtv members 4, 5, 6, 1 and 8 whieh have-a common connecti on with a shaft I0. The

. shaft l is provided with rollers I 4 which are adapted to .travel 0n rails IG forming the upper part .of the supporting framevvork 18 of the table. At its lovv.er end; the tab1e has conne.cted therevvith a shaft 22 having rollers 24 adapted to travel on the.rails I6.

The table is shaken by the following drive mechanism: motor 26 drives sheave 28 by means of a belt 3G; shaft 32 mountecl. on frame I8 is r0tated by sheave 28; and a pair oi ecccentrics 34 mounted on shaft 32 imp-art a longitudinally reciprocating motion to arms 36 which are-pivotally attached at their outer 61'1ds 130 the tab1e. In practice, the shaft 32 isrotated at a. speed of approximately 300 R. P. M., thus causing the tab1e I to vibrate rapidly in a longitudinal direction.

According to the presnt invention, means are provided in combination w ith -the described shakar structure for.orienting the fis h in .belly of the invention, the orienting means comprise spaced pair 40 of converging guide fins secured 120 the forward end of the screen bed cf the table and a. plurality of spaced elongated be11y cups 42 secured in fish receiving relation 1:0 the pairs cf guide fins 40. Preferably, the belly cups a.re so disposed with respect 130 the sha.ker tab1e surface that 1;he fish drop a short distance, for examp1e three-quarters of an inch, in moving from the lower end of the shaker tab1e into the be11y cups'.

As 1zhe fish move down the table toward the guide fins 40, the rapid vibrating aetion of the shaker tab1e together wi1;h th'e gravitational force applied 130 the fish causes the fore parts of the fish, which are heavier than the tai1 prt-ions, 110 approach the fins 40 in a head first manner. The pairs of guide fins 40 then ac1. as channels into which the fish are permitted to enter on1y one a1: a. time. As 1Jhe fish pass between the pairs 01 fins, they are gradually forced to stra.ighten up slightly by reason of ehe convergence cf the channels defined by the guide fin pairs, and this straightening up Operation is finally completed by causing the fish 130 drop the short distance from the tab1e into the be11y cups, wherein the dorsal portions of the fish are in an upright position by virtue of the drop and the action of gravity on the heads and 'bellies, the heavier portions of the fish.

I1: should be pointed out that whi1e the shaker tabl orienting portion of the system operates in the manner described, random am). infrequent occasins will arise, particularly if the machine is allowed 110 operate for a fairly I1g period of time without the attendance of an operator, when a. fish wi1lbe oriented sidewise with respect to the mouth of a guide channel, thus blocking that channel, despite the fach that the rapid throw 120 and fro of the table tends to prevent this. With a. minor amount of supervisory attention on 1;he par1; of an operator, this situation can be rea.dily c1'ned by a. manual re-orientation of an obstructing fish.

As the fish are discharged from the belly cups 42, they are deposited 0n1:0 continuous crad1etype supports comprised 015 pairg cf inverted rmd truncated resilient V-belts 44 carried by drums 48 and 48. In order 110 insure tha1; the fish will be maintained in their upright position during transfer from the be11y cups 130 the V-be1ts, the forward ends of the cups are provided wioh pairs of guide strips 41. After the fish have been fu11y deposited upon the V-belts, they will -be mainta.ined in their upright position 1by ehe form, spacing and uniform rate of trave1 of the belts. 111 will be noted that the fish are deposiced between alternate pairs of belts rather than between each pair, and this is for a purpose hereinafter described.

The driving system for the conveyor be1ts 44 comprises a. chain 50 (Figure 1) in driving relation 110 sprocket 52 secured to the ax1e 45 01 drum 46, said chain being driven by sprocket 53 secured 130 shaft 54. Shaft 54 is driven through sprocke1; 55 by chain 56 which passes over sprocket 51 secured to shaft 58. A source of power, not shown, drives shaft 58 by means of chain 50 in engagement with sprocket 62 secured 110 the shaft. Drum 58 mounted on axle 50 is the id1er drum of the V-belt conveyor. Axles 45 a.nd 59 and Shaft 54 and 58 are journalled for 1'0123 tion on V-belt system support frame 80.

In order 1:0 laterally align 1:he fish on the vbelts 44 so that they ma.y move forward in successive lateral1y aligned, or company fron groups, a. plurality cf checkers 64 are provided. The checkers, which are actuated by cam 60 secured to a. shaft 86 which is journalled for totation in frarne 80, are carried 1oy member 08 secured to a shaft 10 which is supported for rehation. by frame 30. The forward ends of the checkers 154 are maintained ag'ainst the surfaces of cam 155 by a yieldable connection between memher 08 and frame comprising arm 12 and spring 141 Shaft 86 and the cam 66 ca.rried thereby are retated by a chain 82 which passes over sprocket 83 secured to shaft 54 and sprocket 84 secured 'to shaf1: 85.

As the cams 56 are rotated from their 1owermost position, as shown in Figure 5, 130 their uppermost position, as shown in Figure 6, the checkers 64 are moved upwardly against the resistanc cf spring '14 130 extend into the channels defined between adja.ciant V-be1ts 44. As the fish in the alternate V-be1t channels engagethe checkers, the forward movement of the fish is temporarily halted, with the fish being slightly cammed upwardly by the checkers so tha1: relative movement can occur between the fish and V- belts. As the checkers move downwardly under the action of spring 14 as the cam 66 swings 1:0- ward the position of Figure 5, a. company front, or a Iine, group of fish moves forwardly on the V -be1t conveyor.

The fish are then carried by the V-belt conveyor 1:0 a second group cf checkers which are synchronized with the checker 154 so as 130 be mtheir upper position when the fish reach them. The checkers 90 are secured to shaft journalled in frame 80, and the cams 92 a.re secured 110 shaft 94 journalled for retation in frame 80. The ca.ms 92 are driven at the same speed as cams 515 by means cf gear wheel 96 secured 120 shaft. 94 and. gear wheel 98 which is in mesh with wheel 96 and secured to sha.ft 53. The checkers 90 are maintained in engagement with the cams 92 by yieldable means connecting shaft 100 1;0 frame 89 comprising rod 102 and spring 104. As the checkers 90 move downwardly under 1she action of spring 104, the fish move forwardly 011 the vbe1t conveyor unti1 they come into contact with* a stop plate 105 carried by frame 80. The plate 105 is provided with openings 105 (Figure 8) through which the belts 44 pass.

The mechanism preferably embodies guide means for the fish to insure that the fish will be maintained in an upright position during their course cf trave1 on be V-belt conveyor. Such meang a.re comprised of a. plurality of spaced. parallel guide strips 53 disposed above be1ts 44. The endg 135 cf strip 53 are attached a supporting cross bar 15'1 carried by frame 80. The guide strips 41 carried by the belly c11p5 52 are providedwith looped ends which fit around the upwardly extending ends 55 of strip 63. The opposite ends 85 of the guide stripg 63 are removably anchored with apertures 105 formed m the stop p1ate 105. Although no1: necessepry to maintain the fish in an upright posit-i0n during. normal travel of normally sized fish on the V- be1t conveyor, the guide strips 63 serve to marinta.in the upright position cf la.rger sized fish which ride higher on the be1ts 44, anal, also the guide strips ma.intain the position of the fish when the fish are ra.ised by the checkers 54 and 00. v

When the fish engage the stop pla1:e 105, they are positioned directly beneaoh a plurality of ejectors 103, there being one ejectbr for each 013 the alternate fish catrying channels defined by the V-.

belts 44. The; ejectors a-re carried a shaft 110 journalled' for rotation ifi frame 8'II, am! they are actuated by a pai'r of spaced camg I I2 secured to shaft H8 journalled on frame 80. Chain I22 passing over sprocket I'26 secured toshaft 54 and sprocket I24 secured to shaft H8 causes snaft II 8 and cams H2 carried thereby to rotate tocausewheel elements H4 carried by the cams to engage arms. H5 connected to the banl: f ejec- I;0rs I08 tomove the ejeotors downwardly against the aotion of spring I I-' ser'ving to conneot the ejector control arms I I to frame 80 through ro'd I I"I.

The cyolic operation of cams I I2 is such that the ejectors IIJ8 are simultaneously depress9d once for each filme the checkers 98 allow a group of fish toproceed on the belts 44, and the ejectors are deprassed a1: substantially the same time the 'fish are moved into engagement'with the stop platze I05. The ejectors, which are shaped to substantially conform to the general contour of the fish, ejecf; the fish from the V-belts 44 by forcing the fish downwardly between I:he belts. The resilieno belts are forcefully spread apart by be pressure Cf the ejectors against the fish 130 allow the fish 110 pass therebetween. From Figure 5 it Will Ioe noted tha1; When the ejectors IO8' are moving downwardly to force the fish between belts 44 and thus diverge those belts defining theconveyor cradles for the fish, the checkers 64 are moving to an uppermost position between the belts. The Checkerg IM, whioh are shown in Figure 1 as being located between each successive pair of belts; rather than each alternaivepair of belts, asis the case with the checkers 90, thus serve to prevent such divergence of the belts in the belt conveyor regions of the two groupg of checkers as would allovv the fish in these regions of the conveyor to fall through Ehe belts. If desireol, the checkers 98 may be disposed betvveen succ-essive pairs of belts to further restriet the divergence of the belts for the stated purpose. II: is tobe pointed out, however, thaI; it may be desirable for purposes of graoling out small-er undesire'd. fish to allow free divergence of the belts throughout the length of I;he conveyor under the fish ejector action of ejectors III8.

As the fish are forced between the belts M, they are reoeived within support oradles defineolbetween spaced adjacent cutting blooks I 25 of a conventional fish-cutting maohine. I28 are secured to a chain drive 132 passing over sprocket wheel I36 seoured to shaft I 4Iljournallecl for rotation in frame 8I3 and sprocket wh9el I38 secured 130 shaft M8 journalled for rotation in the frame I46 of the cuttin machine. The block conveyor drive shaft IM is driven by engagement of beveled gear HI2 carried thereby With beveled gear IM secured to shaft 53. The block conveyor is thus driven in timed relation with ohe V-belt conveyor, With the timed. relationship being such that when a gmup of fish is ejected from the V- belt conveyor the fish are received in alternzlte cradles dfined by the cuoting blooks I2IB. A fish tail guide bar I3II disposed be1ow the belts '44 anal extending for oho wiclth of the frame 38 to which it is secured serves to suppor1; Ehe tai1s ofthe fish out of the cutting block craclles until the fish pass from beneath the belts 44.

As the fish are moved by the outoing blockconveyor, they pass under bar I52 whioh is yieldingly mounted on frame MS by means of support rods IE3 and compression springs I 62 anal I5 The bar I52, whichis yieldingly movable in aver tical The blocks position for the cutting and eviscerati'ngoperation. The moving fish areengagecl by a pair' o1 rotating circul'ar knives I66 and I68, the for.mer serving fio sever the tails of the fish and the latter serving 130 partially sever I:he heads of the fish ab. points in back of' the gills. The knives are mounted on shaf1; III! j'ournallecl for rotation in membem of the frame I46'. Shaft I'IIJ is provided. with a sheave I which is driven by belt I82, said holt being in turn driven by sheave IE@ mounted 011 sh'aft I86 journalled for rotation in elements of frame I6. Shaft ISIS is provided With a gear wheel I92 which is driven by gear wheel I94 so.- cured to the idler shaft I48 of the block conveyor.

The cutting machine, which is of a conventional. type, asabove mentioned, is provlded with an evisceratin bar I'= attached to the frame I4Ii. The pointed rearvvard end ofthe bar I96 is so disposeol as I:o enter the partial cuts in the fish caused by knife I68, am]. uhe heads of the fish are cammecl outwardly by travel along the cam shaped outer side of the bar, thus causing the heads and viscera to be pulled free of oho. fish bodies. The heads and. viscera gravit-ate over the side of frame MB into any suitable receptacle, while the severeol tails of I:he fish remain in the cutting blocks un1:il they are deliverecl by the conveyor into a receiving receptacle Which is separate and apart from the means utilized to re ceive the fish bodies.

'While a specific and' preferred emboclimentof the invention has been shown and described, it is I:oi be uncierstood that all substantial equivalents of saidembodiments are Within the spirit anal scope of the invention.

What is clairned is:

1. A fish feeder mechanism for delivering groups of laterally aligned and positionally oriented fish to a block type conveyor of a fish cutting machine comprising a closed path fecad conveyor having an inpu1: end and a discharge end, said discharge end extending over anal beneath 'the upper reach 0f said block type conveyor and at a right angle thereto, said feed conveyor being comprised of a plurality of spaced resilient belts defining between adjacent belts.a plurality cf longitudinally extenoling open-bottomed. conveyor channels, fish orienting am! feeding means disposed adj'aoent the input end of said feed conveyor and adapted* feed. fish into alternate channels* of said. feed conveyor in a head-first and belly-down position, means .foi laterally aligning the'fish fecl onto said conveyor by saicl orientirig and feeoling means comprising laterally aligned checker elements cyclioally operable inunison 'co move upwar'olly between said belts to block the movement of the fish and to inove downWarclly to release said fish for further movement by said feed conveyor, anal means so transfer the groups of aligned fish from said feed conveyor to the conveyor 0f said cutting maehine comprising laterally aligned ejector elements disposed above said conveyors and oyclically opera'ole in unison in timecl relaiaion with the movement of said checker elements and said block type conveyor to move downwarclly and force a group o1 fish between said belts am} onto said block type conveyor.

2. A fish feeder meohanism comprising a plurality of spaced parallel resilient belts defining between adjaoent belts a plurality 05 longitudinally extencling open-bottomed channels, fish orienting and feeding means-disposecl in delivery relation* with:alternate onesof s aid holt d efine c i .:.channelawheckcir;xnaans,associated wit hgaid alternate ohannels and disposedln spaoed relation with said orienting and feeding means in the direction oi travel of said bel ts, said checker means being operable in one position of operation 130 block the movement of fish in said alternate channels and operable in another position of operation to release said. fish for travel wlth said belts, ejector means assooiated with said alternate channels and disposed above said belts and in spaced relation with said checker means in the direction of travel of said belts, said ejector means being operable to move downwardly within said alternate channels, and means operable 130 drive said belts, cheoker means and ejector means in timed relation.

3. Fish feeder mechanism comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient belts defining an openbottorned fish supporting cradle, drive means for said belts, ejector means disposed above and between said belts operable to move downwardly to apply a sufficient force to a fish supported longitudinally between said belts to spread said belts apart and cause the fish to drop beneath said belts.

4. In combination, the feeder mechanism sei; forth in claim 3, a. block type conveyor of a fish cutting machine extend'mg beneath said belts and ejector means and normal thereto, and means to drive said ejector means and saicl block type conveyor in timecl relation.

5. Fish feecler mechanism comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient belts defining an openbottomed cradle adapted for the lengthwise support o: fish, ejector means associatecl with said belts oyclically operable to move in one direction 120 force a fish through said belt-defined cradle and to move in the opposite direction out of the path o1 travel 3 other be1t supported fish, checker means assooiated with said bellss in spaced relation with said ejector means cyclically operable 120 move in one direotion between said belts to intercept and check the movement of a fish on said belts and to move in the opposite direotion to release said fish for movement toward said ejector means, and drive means to synchronize movement of said belts, checker means, and ejeotor means, whereby a fish released by said checke1 means will be brought beneath said ejeotor means as said latter means is moved in said one direction to eject a fish from said belts.

6. In combination, the feeder meohanism sei: forth in claim 5, a block type conveyor of a fish cutting machine extending beneath said belts and ejector means and normal thereto, and drive means for said conveyor operable to synchronize the movement thereof with the movement of said ejector means, whereby a fish ejeoted from said belts will be deposited within a block of said conveyor.

7. Fish feeder mechanism comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient belts definlng an openbottomed craclle adapted for the lengthwisesupport of fish, fish orienting and feed means in delivery relation with said cradle adapted to feed flsh into said. cradle in a head first ancl belly down position, ejector means disposed in spaced relation to said orienting and feed means and associated wit.h said belts, said ejector means being oyclically operable to move in one direction so force a fish through said belt-defined oradle and to move in the opposite direction out of the path of travel of other holt supported fish, checker means disposed between said orienting ancl feed means and sald ejector means and associated with said belts, said checker mean's being oyclically operable to move in one direction between said belts to intercept and check the movement of a fish on said belts and to move in the opposlte direction to release said fish for movement toward said ejeotor means, and drive means' to synchronize movement of said belts, checker means, and ejector means, whereby a fish released by said checker means will be brought beneath said ejeotor means as said latiser means is moved in said one direction to eject a fish from said belts.

8. In combination, the feeder mechanism sei;

forth in claim '7, a block type conveyor of a fish cutting machine extending beneath said belts and ejector means and normal thereoo, and drive means for said oonveyor operable to synohronize the movement thereof with the movement of said ejector means, whereby a fish ejected from said belts will be deposited within a block of said conveyor.

9. In a machin of the class described, an inclined longitudinally vibrating table, means disposed ab 'she lower end of said table for positioning fish belly down and heacl first, a first couveyor cooperating' With said fish positioning means for carrying fish longitudinally oyclically operable means for checking such longitudinal travel of fish, cyclically operable means for ejectlng fish from the first conveyor, a second conveyor positioned beneath the first conveyor to receive and oarry transversely ejected fish, means extending the width of first. conveyor for holding fish tails above second conveyor, and a common meang for synchronously operating said nonveyors, said checking means and said ejecting means.

10. In a machine of the dass described, an inclined table aotuated to vibrate longitudinally and having belly-cups attached to the lower nd thereof, a first conveyor adjacent to the bellycups positioned to receive fish therefrom and 130 carry fish longitudinally, two Sets of eheckers for momencarily checking the travel of fish, ejectors for ejecting fish from the first conveyor, a gecond conveyor for oarrying fish transversely positioned beneath the first conveyor to receive fish as ejectecl, means for synchronizing the operating of said conveyors, said checkers and said ejectors, and. a tail guide bar extending the wldth of the first conveyor for holding tails cf fish above the second conveyor.

11. In a machine of the dass described, a longitudinally vibrating inclined ta-ble having inclined belly-cups attached ab the lower end positioned a short distance below the table, a first conveyor adjacent to Ehe =bel1y-cups and. adapted to receive fish gravitabing therefrom; said conveyor having a plurality of belts for carrying fish longitudinally, a plurality of guides above tl1e belts and extending the length of the travel of the fish, two sets of checkers, Tor momentarily stopping, linlng up, and releasing fish, means for synchronizing said checkers so that fish released from the flrst Set of checkers are momentarily stopped by the second Set of checkers, ejectors adapted to thrust fish through the belts means for synchronizing said ejectors with said checkers so that fish released from said second sei; of checkers are thereafter ejeoted downwardly between the belts of said conveyor, a second conveyor positioned beneath the first conveyor for carrying fish transversely and to receive fish ejected through the belts and a tail guide bar positioned aboVe and extending the Width of the first conveyor adapted hold the flsh tails above the aecond conveyor.

12. In a machlne of the dass described, an inclined longitudinally vibrating table having inclined belly-cups attached at the lower end for positioning fish head first and belly down, a conveyor adjacent to the belly-cum and comprising a plurality of conveyor belts for carrying fish longitudinally as they gravitate out of said bellycups. a plurality of guides above the belts and extending the length of the travel of the fish, tvvo synchronized sets of checkers for momentarily checking the travel of fish, ejectors synchronizecl with the checkers for ejecting fish downwardly between the conveyor beltsa cutting-block conveyor positioned adjacent on end of the belt conveyor and synchronized with the ejectors and carrying a plurality cf cutting blocks positioned below the conveyor belts to receive ancl carry ejected fish transversely, and a tail guide bar positioned below and extending the Width of the conveyor belts for holding tails of fish above the cutting blocks.

13. In a machine of the dass described, an inclined longitudinally vibrating table having fish guides. at the lower section thereof leading into inclined belly-cups attached to and positioned below the leve1 of the lower end of the table and a conveyor comprising spaced belts disposed adjacent to the belly-cups for receiving fish gravitating from the belly-cum and carrying them longitudinally in the orientation in which they gravitate from seid belly-cups.

14. In a. machine of the dass described, a multiple spaced-belt conveyor for longitudinally carrying fish positioned between said belts, ejectors for pushing fish downwardly betWeen the belts, and a pocket conveyor mounted beneath the ejector at right angles to and below the belt conveyor, and means for synchronizing the said conveyors and seid ejectors.

said conveyor, a pocket conveyor beneath, at right angles to, the belt conveyor for carrylng fish horizontally, means for drlving said conveyors and said ejectl0 ing means in timed relationships, and a tail guide bar extending the width of the multiple belt conveyor for holding fish tails above the pocket con veyor.

16. In a machine of the dass described, a. multiple belt conveyor for longitudinally carrying fish positioned belly dovvn anal head first, two Sets of checkers disposed betvveen the belts for momentarily checking the travel of the fish, ejectors for pushing fish between the belts, a pocket conveyor mountecl below the ejectors and at right angles to and beneath the belt conveyor and a common driving means synchronizing said conveyors, said. checkers, ancl said ejectors so that fish released by said first set of checkers are checked by sald second set of checkers, and those releasecl by sald second set of checkers are ejected by said ejectors into pockets of said pocket conveyor.

17. A conveyor for fish comprising a pair of spaced parallel resilient bell;s said belts being continuous and having an inverted V-form in cross section to define therebetvveen an open-bottom cradle adapted for the lengthwise support of fish, grooved driver and idler drums for said belts adapted to anchor the terminal ends of said belts against lateral displacement, driving meang connected to said driver drum, and fish ejector means movably mounted above said open-bottom cradle and operable to force fish downwardly through said cradle.

OLGA M. HABER, Executrz'rc 0) the last will und testament o) Oscar J. Haber, deceased.

Rotierences cma in the file of thls patent UNI'I'ED STATES PATENTS 

